Editorial
Elimination of tax on sanitary pads laudable
It is wonderful news and incredibly refreshing that the government is eliminating the tax on sanitary pads.
This will make the product more affordable for young adolescent girls and women, which will ultimately reduce menstruation poverty.
As part of the 2024 Budget Statement that was delivered in Parliament on Wednesday, Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta declared that sanitary pads will no longer be subject to tax.
“Mr. Speaker, “The implementation of the following reliefs has been prioritised, including Zero rate VAT on locally produced sanitary pads,” the Finance Minister announced.
According to him, “This decision to scrap taxes on sanitary pads reflects our commitment to addressing women’s health needs and promoting gender equality.”
The action is undoubtedly important in the fight for gender equality as it would better manage menstrual hygiene, meet the specific healthcare needs of women, and lessen the financial burden on women and girls,
Additionally, the decision to remove the tax on locally produced sanitary pads would undoubtedly spur producers to increase output, which will benefit the economy of the nation.
Women’s rights groups, health campaigners, and manufacturers who have long pushed for the exemption of sanitary pads from taxes applauded the news.
The Spectator also joined the advocacy demanding the government to waive the tax on sanitary pads and to help women and adolescent girls by lowering the cost and increasing the accessibility of sanitary pads.
We hope that the removal of tax on sanitary pads will open the door for other policies that put women’s health and wellbeing first.
The Spectator continues to urge individuals, women activists, institutions, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), and other well-meaning Ghanaians to keep providing menstrual hygiene products to women and teenage girls across the country in order to improve their lives.
The Spectator calls on the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) to ensure that producers of sanitary pads reduce the price of their goods as soon as the policy goes into effect in order to support the overall growth and development of the nation’s economy.
The government must also sustain the provision of water, sanitary facilities, and hygienic amenities (WASH) in order to retain girls in school.
In addition to the severe flooding that Accra is already experiencing a major sanitation crisis is imminent as the Kpone dump approaches closure.
Currently, there are now just two significant disposal sites in the area: the Adepa dumpsite in the Ga West Municipal Assembly, which is close to Amasaman, and the Kpone Waste Landfill.
Inquiries so far, revealed that the Kpone site is almost at capacity and will likely close in the next six months. As a result, waste is accumulating at local markets and municipal collection points throughout the capital.
The situation has been made worse by the recent terrible floods, and immediate action is required to prevent the impending crisis.
The fundamental issue is that accumulating uncollected waste during rainy seasons poses significant threats to public health, including the possibility of cholera, typhoid, and malaria outbreaks.
Subsequent investigations showed that the Kpone plant, which was initially built to manage 500 tonnes of waste per day, has been handling almost twice that much, shortening its lifespan.
Many towns’ waste collection operations have been badly impacted by this looming shutdown, and the fact that Accra has few disposal choices is even more disturbing.
Now, waste collection vehicles face abnormally long queues at the Kpone site, and residents complain that most of the tricycles, referred to as “Aboboyaa,” leave rubbish uncollected in residential and commercial areas.
Although the Zoompak waste transfer station was authorised by the government to reopen in order to help manage daily waste volumes, it is still unable to handle the enormous volumes of waste generated every day.
According to Dr. Peter Kwesi Dagadu, Managing Director of the Landfills Company Limited, managing the capital’s expanding waste burden has become extremely difficult due to the scarcity of disposal facilities, especially in light of the city’s fast population increase and rising waste production.
As a result, the situation has put a great deal of strain on the infrastructure already in place and jeopardizes attempts to keep Accra’s waste management system sustainable and effective.
The Spectator agrees with him that new infrastructure for disposing of waste is desperately needed, as a change to a more environmentally friendly waste management techniques.
It is admirable that he suggests Ghana adopt recycling and garbage recovery as a long-term solution to the nation’s sanitation problems.
We therefore, implore the government to support this recycling objective by enacting strict laws, regulations, investments, and enforcement measures to enhance waste management nationwide.
In order to address the waste problem as quickly as possible, everyone must be involved, including private waste management companies, individuals, and households.
Dear Editor,
I wish to express concern over the allegations that some officials of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) demanded money from players before they are selected for national teams.
If these allegations are true, then, they threaten fairness and integrity in Ghana football.
Just as is done in other countries, selection into any national team should be based solely on merit -talent, discipline, hard work and performance, not on a player’s ability to pay money.
Such practices, if allowed to continue, will discourage many talented but less privileged players from pursuing their dreams. It will also damage the reputation of the GFA and reduce public confidence in the country’s football administration.
Those reports are quite unfortunate but some of us want to believe in the response issued by the FA but would also advise the GFA to conduct some investigation, because like it is often said, there is no smoke without fire.
If it means an individual is going about making such demands on the blind side of the FA, such an investigation can expose the person.
I therefore urge the GFA to investigate these allegations thoroughly and transparently. Any official found guilty should face the appropriate sanctions. At the same time, individuals making the allegations should provide credible evidence so the truth can be established.
Ghanaian football belongs to all of us, and we must protect its integrity by ensuring that merit, transparency and accountability guide player selection.
From John Boateng,
Mamprobi
